Brewer wrote:Nice pix Linn, but what I want to know is...did you like anything you drank?
If so, details man, details!
Well Bob, I was working on the details when you posted this.
Here's a few things I left out. I cannot stress the importance of proper glassware enough. We had only five Glencarin glasses between us, so we all used them for the nosing portion of the tasting. This of course took a little extra time. Always use identical glasses, as this takes the glass out of the equation, and gives each bourbon an equal stance.
Since we were compairing five Staggs the color of the bourbon was not a big issue, and the viscosity was essentially the same. In a five way shoot out of different bourbons color and viscosity differences between the bourbons
is a big deal. So you'll want glassware that facilitates such observations.
Nosing is a great big deal and the Glencarin glass is a great noser with wonderful focus. It also has fairly good swirling action. So swirl & nose. Swirl & nose.
As far as taste and finish goes you can drink out of anything as the type of glass is no longer in play. Except perhaps on a psychological level where you might like the bourbon out of the nice crystal glass better than the recycled babyfood jar (don't laugh - they work!).
If you are serious about your tasting, five bourbons are aplenty! Don't over do it, and take your time. You'll be surprised how fast a couple of hours will fly by.
Always; always, always taste blind out of identical glasses! In a tasting of discovery it is essential to take as much personal preference and subliminal psychological factors out of the equation. In a five way shoot out between popular small batchers such as Knob Creek; Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Elijah Craig, & Ridgemont Reserve 1792 for example you are going to already have your favorites. But blind in identical glassware is a challenge. Doing it in a group is even more fun!
The learning never ends.
ima